²³ For the wages of sin is death,^(A) but the gift of God is eternal life^(B) in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

²⁵ He chose to be mistreated^(A) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

⁶ But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.^(A)

Praise to the God of All Comfort

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us^(B) in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.